Steelers' George Pickens Cited in Car Crash; Head Hit Windshield but WR Is 'OK'

Wide receiver George Pickens, who went No. 52 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL draft on Friday, was involved in a car crash one week ago.

Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network provided the report:

The news on Pickens comes after Rapoport and Pelissero reported that fellow Georgia star Travon Walker, the edge-rusher who went No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL draft, was also involved in a car crash earlier this year.

Five players from Georgia, which won the national title over Alabama, were selected in the first round. Pickens was the first Bulldog selected in Round 2.

Pickens now heads to Pittsburgh, where he'll presumably team up with Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool to form an elite wideout unit with the Steelers.

It's a new era in Pittsburgh with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger retiring after 18 seasons.

Pittsburgh signed Mitch Trubisky to a two-year deal in the offseason, and the Steelers also added Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett with the No. 20 overall selection in the 2022 NFL draft.

Clearly, the emphasis thus far has been on rebuilding the offense, which finished 21st in scoring last year.

Adding Pickens certainly helps. The big-play threat caught 36 passes for 513 yards and six touchdowns in 2020 and looked prime for a huge year in 2021.

However, he suffered a torn right ACL during a non-contact drill amid a spring practice in March 2021. Somehow, Pickens was able to return in November and contribute on a limited basis (five catches, 107 yards, five games).

Now Pickens will head to Pittsburgh, which is looking for its third straight playoff appearance.